Team NetApp-Endura is sending its strongest line up possible to the Critérium du Dauphiné, which starts in Champéry on Sunday, June 2nd, and is keen to impress race organiser ASO. The German Professional Continental team missed out on a wildcard to ASO’s biggest race, the Tour de France, but will look to show itself worthy of this race, and of the Vuelta a España, to which it has received an invitation.
“We’ll be competing with the best riders on the team at the moment, the ones we’ve scored our victories with over the past weeks and the ones who have the skills to come through in the high mountains,” said NetApp-Endura’s team manager Ralph Denk optimistically.
“The so-called ‘mini Tour de France’ is a highlight for our team, alongside the Tour of California and the Vuelta a España,” he added. “We’ll ride offensively, show what we’re capable of, and maybe even come up with a surprise. Just like the organisers know we can do.”
Many of the team’s hopes will rest on its two Czech riders, Jan Barta and Leopold König, who have taken most of its biggest results so far this season. With the number of mountains in the eight-day race, as well as the flat 32.5km time trial halfway through, both climbers are eying a place in the overall top ten.
"It will be my first ProTour race this year so it is one of my highlights of the season with the difficult mountain profile which should suit me, said König, who won the Mount Diabolo stage of the Tour of California earlier this month. “I don‘t want to put any pressure on myself so I take it easy as I have clear goals and I am well prepared. Of course confidence is important and after the first victory of the season I am even more motivated to do well in the Dauphiné.”
As well as NetApp-Endura’s two Czechs, the rest of the team will be looking to get into breakaways with riders such as Ronde van Drenthe winner Alexander Wetterhall, and third place Andreas Schillinger.
NetApp-Endura team for the Critérium du Dauphiné
Jan Barta, David de la Cruz, Bartosz Huzarski, Leopold König, Jose Mendes, Andreas Schillinger, Paul Voss, Alexander Wetterhall